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| Priests 'took US church millions' | Priests 'took US church millions' |
| (1 day later) | |
| A Catholic priest in the US is under arrest and another is on the run after being accused of stealing millions of dollars from their parishioners. | A Catholic priest in the US is under arrest and another is on the run after being accused of stealing millions of dollars from their parishioners. |
| Monsignor John Skehan, 79, was charged with grand theft, as Florida police searched for Father Francis Guinan. | Monsignor John Skehan, 79, was charged with grand theft, as Florida police searched for Father Francis Guinan. |
| The two men are suspected of stealing a total of $8.6m (£4.6m) from their Palm Beach church and funding a lavish life of property, holidays and gambling. | The two men are suspected of stealing a total of $8.6m (£4.6m) from their Palm Beach church and funding a lavish life of property, holidays and gambling. |
| A lawyer for Monsignor Skehan said the figures were "over-sensationalised". | A lawyer for Monsignor Skehan said the figures were "over-sensationalised". |
| Court documents contained few details about where the $8.6m went, Associated Press news agency reported. | Court documents contained few details about where the $8.6m went, Associated Press news agency reported. |
| Tip-off | Tip-off |
| Monsignor Skehan served at St Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church for about 40 years and was succeeded at the church three years ago by Father Guinan. | Monsignor Skehan served at St Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church for about 40 years and was succeeded at the church three years ago by Father Guinan. |
| Monsignor Skehan used funds skimmed from the congregation to buy property, Florida law department officials said. | Monsignor Skehan used funds skimmed from the congregation to buy property, Florida law department officials said. |
| We hope the parishioners base their faith on God and Jesus and not on men John Krolikowski,parish manager | We hope the parishioners base their faith on God and Jesus and not on men John Krolikowski,parish manager |
| "In Father Guinan's case we found he used it more in lifestyle such as travelling, visits to Las Vegas, casinos, in the Bahamas," a department spokesman told the AFP news agency. | "In Father Guinan's case we found he used it more in lifestyle such as travelling, visits to Las Vegas, casinos, in the Bahamas," a department spokesman told the AFP news agency. |
| A police spokesman said they began investigating the two men after a tip-off in 2005. | A police spokesman said they began investigating the two men after a tip-off in 2005. |
| "We got an anonymous letter that started it all," police spokesman Jeff Messer told AFP. | "We got an anonymous letter that started it all," police spokesman Jeff Messer told AFP. |
| Monsignor Skehan was arrested at Palm Beach airport after returning from Ireland, officials said, but Father Guinan's location is unknown. | Monsignor Skehan was arrested at Palm Beach airport after returning from Ireland, officials said, but Father Guinan's location is unknown. |
| "One is in custody, one is not. We're still looking for his location, we knew where he was until Monday." | "One is in custody, one is not. We're still looking for his location, we knew where he was until Monday." |
| Parish manager John Krolikowski told AFP: "We hope the parishioners base their faith on God and Jesus and not on men." | Parish manager John Krolikowski told AFP: "We hope the parishioners base their faith on God and Jesus and not on men." |
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